A file photo of players preparing for action.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 28: The Kuwait U-20 team is aiming for another victory in the 2025 Asian Cup Qualifiers in China as it faces the UAE national team tonight at 8:30 pm at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Stadium, Al-Yarmouk Club. This match is part of the fifth and final round of Group 3. Earlier South Korea will play Lebanon at the same stadium.

South Korea currently leads the standings with 9 points and is almost certain to secure the top spot and direct qualification to the finals, with today's match against Lebanon expected to be relatively straightforward. Lebanon has suffered defeats to both Kuwait and the UAE, securing a lone win over the Northern Mariana Islands. Kuwait and UAE are both vying for a second-place finish, hoping that results in other groups work in their favor to secure a qualification spot. The top teams from all ten groups will qualify for the finals, along with the best five second-place teams.

Kuwait’s impressive performance against Lebanon in the third round, where it controlled the match, sets high expectations for today's crucial game. The team, led by Croatian coach Dario Pasic and assistant Mohammed Al-Fulaijawi, knows that while the UAE will be a tough opponent, a victory can be achieved if the players execute their strategy effectively. In the fourth round two days ago, South Korea earned their third consecutive win by defeating the UAE 3-1, while Lebanon claimed their first victory of the tournament, beating the Northern Mariana Islands 8-1.

By Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff